Fast start propels Flying Queens; No. 6 OCU next

Box Score
Alesha Robertson wasn't happy with the Wayland Baptist Flying Queens' energy in their last game. On Thursday night in Hutcherson Center, the Queens gave their coach more of what she wanted.
 
Wayland raced to a 30-6 lead to open the game and cruised to a 76-53 Sooner Athletic Conference victory over Southwestern Christian University.
 
"Our first string came out with a lot more energy tonight, so that made me feel a whole lot better," Robertson said.
The win lifted Wayland to 14-10 on the season and 11-4 in the SAC, while the Lady Eagles fell to 8-16, 6-10.
 
"It was a good win," Robertson said. "Southwestern Christian has knocked off some pretty good teams in the conference. I was just glad we came out with a 'W' tonight."
Iesha Greer had 17 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks for the Queens. Angeleigh Davis added 12 points and Shawna Monreal 11, while LaTericka Anderson finished with eight points and 10 rebounds.
 
The Queens led 43-23 at halftime and ended up holding the Eagles to the second-lowest output of the season for a Wayland opponent.
 
"I thought our defense was better tonight," Robertson said. "I felt like we played some pretty tough defense, and that always helps."
 
The Queens had the game well in hand, 47-33, when they doubled that spread by scoring 14 unanswered points and going up 28 to put it way out of reach.
 
"I got to play my second string again, so that was good. It gave them a chance to get a lot of experience," Robertson said.
The Eagles rallied a bit to cut it to 16, but that's as close as it ever got.
 
"We had a tough stretch with the second crew defensively in the second half, but we finally got it together," Robertson said.
 
Wayland, which ranks third in the NAIA in total rebounding, narrowly outboarded the Lady Eagles, 51-47. In that that was due to Southwestern Christian committing 24 turnovers, 11 more than Wayland, which had 12 blocks from five players.
 
The Lady Eagles, who made just 1-of-13 3-pointers, got 15 points from Adrianna White and 12 from Vanessa Bledsoe.
 
The Queens take on No. 6 Oklahoma City University at 1 p.m. Saturday. Wayland opened SAC play on Jan. 2 with a 78-68 loss to the Stars (16-2, 13-1), who have won seven straight, most recently an 82-49 win on Tuesday over Southwestern Christian.

"That's another big game for us," Robertson said. "It's going to be fun and exciting to be able to play a team like that."

The Stars' lone SAC loss was to No. 5 Oklahoma Baptist in Shawnee, 85-79.

"We have to make sure our mentality is right and come out and play hard, just like we did against OBU," said Robertson as she recalled the Queens' 73-65 road win over the Lady Bison on Saturday. "I feel like Oklahoma City has a very good perimeter, so we have to make sure we get out on those 3s as well as play strong inside.

"They're pretty well-rounded, so we'll have to play as a team."